r/Cartalk • u/Ed_Reardon • 1d ago

Tire question Are locking wheel nuts still necessary?

I can remember seeing cars up on bricks years ago with the wheels stolen but now, it appears people just steal the car. So, is it worth having locking wheel nuts?

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u/InsuranceEasy9878 1d ago

The universal truth applies here - it depends.

If you have some standard OEM wheels, or they are beaten up, or otherwise "not worth stealing", don't bother with locking nuts. But with some nicer, more expensive option or aftermarket wheels, it is worth to have that small extra safety. This will keep crackheads from taking your wheels, but if someone really wants to steal them they don't really matter because the key sets are widely available.

3

u/bluecatky 1d ago

I saw a local post about an accord or something that had the premium OEM wheel option that was left on blocks after someone stole the wheels.

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u/InsuranceEasy9878 1d ago

Yup, should have had locking nuts according to my comment

2

u/surrealutensil 1d ago

I feel like these days even most crackheads are generally prepared for them, all it takes is an extra socket you don't care about damaging and a hammer shrug